Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-15
THE IRISH LEADERS.
MEssss. EsMosDE AND oC0EEoR IN
wAsHIEoToy.
Their Reception at the National Capital
Strong Speeches by Senator's sherman,
Ingalls,, and Hswley.
lBy teIerrsph % be DIspslch. ]

lby eiegr5ph 70 toe DispstNu'l
WASHINGTON, December 14-Sil
Thomas Henry Grafton Esmonde aud
Hon. Arthur O'Connor, leaders OF the
Irish bone Rule cause in the English
Parliament, arrived in this city this after
noon, escorted by committee of the
Washington Irish societies who had gone
TO Baltimore TO meet them. In the eve
ming they were rendered a reception by
the Irish societies, and were conducted
TO the Masonic Temple, ia which the re-
ception was held, by an escort headed by
the Third Artillery Band, and consisting
of the Union Veteran Corps, Columbia
Rifles. 'Emmet Guards, Continentas,
Knights OF st. ColumkilI, and the
Catholic knights Of America. The
hall Of the Temple was brilliant
I ly Illuminated and tastefully decorated
with American and Irish flags and many
hued bunting while such appropriate
Inscriptions rs Scotland, Wales, and
Ireland demand Home-Rule +" /; came
rican Sympathy is with Ireland Go
ercion is an Outrage on the Spirit OF
Human Liberty; columbia Greets
Gladstone and Parnell," ornamented
stage and walls. The audience WIS a
large one, aud long before the arrival
OF the guests nearly every seat IN the
body of the hall was occupied. Upon
the platform were Senators Sherman,
Palmer, ingalls,, and Hawley; Repre-
sentatiyes Collins, Bland, Herbert, Outh-
waite, FoIan, Lawler, O'Neill of Mis-
souri,, WOODBURY., Phclan, Game, Ken
nedy, Parker, Nutting. j. ID. Taylor.
Yost, and Brown of Ohio and Nc
Shane, Fred. Douglass, and Thomas II.
Walsh, the head OF the Irish movement
in Washington. Senator ingalls, WAS
expected to preside, but he was late in
arriving, and Senator Sherman was Sc
lected as chairman. Mr.. Ingalls, ap-
peared upon the platform shortly after
Mr.. Sherman begaa speaking.
Mr.. Sherman said thst in appearing here to-
night he was bound % say that he was neither IN
lfishman nor the son OF m Irishnan; bu. he
trouble aas that his ancestors hid come 70 this
country 80 many years ago thai n wCs absolutely
immatcrla whether they were Irish. English,
Scotch. or Welsh. lie knew one thing
lie was an American lepplausel. and a.
an American, feeling himself free TO speak
tiOnal affairs, but also ~ TO tho ahairs or
friendly nations, be took pleasure IN sayi. that
be believed he spoke The general voice OF the
people Of the United States in every part Of tho
Union when be said 10 the distinguished guests
That the sympathy Of America went forth fully
nnd heartily ia a strong desire tha; they might
have home rLlc in Ireland 90 tho fun CXtcnt
demanded by Pamell and Gladstone. zap
plausol lie wanted 10 SEQ ireland possess the
same rights as those enjoyed by the people OF tho
nitcd states lappllusel, AMI he believod uat
IN this sentiment she general voice OF The people
went with him. II wos not because they were
ir-hmen. but because they were frecmcn,
aud deserved the privileges Of frcemel,
that they endorsed ibis sentiment No
country could be FREQ unless II was governed by
the people Of the community, and homo rule
meant "goyemmcut Of the people, b. the peO-
PIE. and for the people lApplause.l why
should Ireland not have home ruler Why was
10 ttat tho Brifl-h Government denied 10 Ire
land, the gem 0f tie British empire what was
conferred on all the colonies of this great en-
pire: lrishmcn had led IN the advance OF AL
iha great battles which England had fought Tor
two centuries. Irish poets mad not only made
l0yc-aonc- for thr mon sud women OF thc world.
but had Rriftcn national anthems for tigt great
cMplra. Ireland bad furnished Tho DemOsthcLc5-
81 and tho Ciceros Of modern times. Ireland lad |
produced great men iu every branch ~ He /
He did NOT claim any right 10 govern tho British
on rfre or 10 advise anybody IN that great pow
crful empire how 10 govern n. All he could sav !
was that he hoped that the pleading voice Oi
Gladst' ne. the grcntest stateemln OF tho agc /
lappiauscl. would induce tho British Parliament /
30 grant home rule. and that the manly courage
and brave persistency OF ParnCu applause. |
might bo sustained IN his sickness ~ The srow-
ing hopes OF home fui" Tor ireland. All the /
American people desired iOr this people 81 a /
Kindred race wa, The ghttO govern them6elyos; /
not 10 break d0@a Tie British enipireshut to pcsi
Jaws injecting local Interests without the Inter- /
fereaco az the British Parliament
IN conclusion senator sherman said: III VIC /
want aud an Re pray for U.s. that Great Br tain /
may yic.d 20 our Irish brethren what they desire !
aud give thcm home rule, aut tc British Gov I
crument from that day forth viii be stronger |
than ever AMID thc Powers OF tho world" loud /
GpUlrurr.l
lr ingalls,. after the applause with which he /
was greeted had sub.ideI. -aiI two ilusirOus I
thu cce1n 10 tell tho story Of the wrongs OF Ire
Land. They are here Tor ibo plrpO-c. Is he un- .
dcr,tOOd. II ascettanlns &c sentiments of no F.
American people upon This great question /
which IS now occupying tho attention Of /
men all over tho civilized world for /
the purpose o. as'cltaining by personal /
Inspection mud exc animation whether or not % l.
true. as tho Torres OF Great Britain have /
said. that the sentiments OF the great mass 0f /
The American people are rot with Ireland lu her Z
struggle for home rulo AMI constitutional liDer- /
-, bat thot al tlcsc movements are merely con-
tOltiOus Of pqrt san drWRgnguc8 ana o. obscure /
politicians for the purpose Of catching the irisb
vote We have assembled this evening, be sail.
IN tho sha low OF 100 national Capitol for the
purpose o. saying, so Tax C5 ho could voice tie
sentiments OF the as-cmbiare. hat tho caIse OF /
plausei; that In deeper aud WiIcr sense il Is
rot only ihc cause {. ireland bat Of humanity
itself We have assembled for tho purpose of
learning from these tWO iliustriOus representa- /
lives 81 irish sentiment what has feeu the re-
slt Of seven Centuries Of oppression Of the Irish
people by the governing classes 81 Great Bri-
tain. aud he said were be "a sill more obscure
q, liiioiau than no ives he should not hesitate %
say that il we are called upon 10 choose between
expressing our sympaiLes for Great Britain
and for ireland ia this contest. no AmericaG
rihZon will long hesitate a. 20 what his prefer
cnce shall be. He dii not uuiei stand mat Irish
Of homo -llo desire 70 Interfere
With tho unity a. tie British cnp ire: but Great
Britain should not forget that there IS no
hing so dangerous and so Improbable as
u Justice; Great Britain should not fOrgc'
mat seven millions 81 people determined
10 be free can never De enslayoG: Great Bri-
tain should not forgot that three millions
)f citizens Ia the original Ilirfcon colonies ia-
ylltcl and achieved thu IL ird.Tepdcucc under
'ar less provOcaton than scyon million Of lrisl
people have endured for centuries. tAppause.i
= q did rot sc sire 10 trench upOu he prupreti.s
)f tho Occaslon, nor 10 iuirule upon the comfy
}. nations, but he could o. forge. that brutal
iua degI AIDED British eoidiery within the memo
-y OF men who might now be witnn the hearing
u his voice had sacked and burned tubs capita.
o could not forget "a At IN every great crisis m
lo American history we havo had 10 contend
With the III will and mcleyoence Of the governing
.lasses Of Great BlitGin; that In the last great
struggle FOR the preservation o. constitutional LID
,ry upon this continent We had the III win Of the
classes Of Great Britain; that she coil
.orted With the South ana equiyocated With the
North, and contributed everything short OF nc
ual hostility 20 secure the downfall OF the Ame-
lean Union. In conclusion he said: 81 suau
,ever cease 10 remember that awful period. |
There was not a battlefield Tor American liberty
which was not illustrated by Irish ValOr and con-
ocrated by Irish blood
Mr. OConuor was then INTRODUCED and drew |
vivid picture Of the oppression and hardships
Which tho Irish people we're compelled % en-
lure. lie said he and his companion were pre-
jared for the reception with which they we're
not by those Of Irish descent, but the warmth
md earnestuoss with which they we're met by
he American population who were not OF their
ith or kin surpassed their expectations The
meeting tonight, he said. was a representative |
ne Of American people and could not be made /
lille Of. He thanked those present from the
,ott0m Of his heart for their reception.
senator Hawley, the next speaker, said the /
peech OF Mr.. O'COpn0r YJs a statement OF terri
lie facts, a terrible indictment. Humanity |
verywhere would say that he had stated wrongs
,hicn must be romcdied H. Joined very gladly
n The welcome 10 these distinguished rcpresen-
adyes OF the great Liberal party OF Great BTi-
ln His heart was warm for them. There was I
% real American looking az the great breadth,
treDgth, and fual purpose OF that party |
tho could withhold his heart, admiration. [
nd love. He predicted local selt-goyern-
neut ia Ireland. and that A. would !